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It’s been a long time since the Edmonton Oilers shook up the NHL, at least in a good way, but they did just that on Canada Day.

General manager Peter Chiarelli landed the biggest name on the NHL’s free agent market, signing bruising power forward Milan Lucic to a seven-year, $42 million contract.

There were a handful of teams pressing hard for the 28-year-old left winger’s services, some offering longer term, others more money, but the lure of playing with Connor McDavid and reuniting with Chiarelli proved too much to resist.

“Getting an opportunity to play with one of the best players of this generation doesn’t come around that often,” said the 6-foot-4, 233-pounder, in a rooftop media conference overlooking the new Rogers Place arena.

“I think there is light at the end of the tunnel with him as far as winning. That’s something I wanted to be a part of. He’s a special young guy.”

The Oilers have courted big name stars before, offering massive money and term, but have never been able to land one. Lucic’s decision marks a shift in the way players around the NHL view Edmonton.

“The McDavid Factor changes it all,” he said. “I go back to Pittsburgh before Sidney Crosby and nobody would sign there either. But once they got a piece like that guys started going there and the team and the city was rewarded with two Stanley Cups.

“With the McDavid Factor here, the same result can happen. That’s why I chose here.”

That, and he has supreme confidence that Chiarelli can build a winner.

“I was with him in eight years in Boston and saw what he was able to do there, turn us into champions,” said Lucic. “That’s what I feel like here. I feel like a 19-year-old again going into Boston. I know things aren’t going to change overnight, but coming out of it and having the end result is what makes it worthwhile. I truly believe that’s going to happen here.

“I truly believe in a couple of years we’re going to be contending for a Stanley Cup.”

Those are the kind of words that put goosebumps on the arms of the long-suffering fans here. Over the last 10 years they haven’t had much to be proud of, but now they’ve got the best young player in the world, the best arena in hockey and the No.1 free agent in the NHL.

Things seem to be finally taking shape.

“It’s exciting for me and for Oilers fans,” said Lucic. “It seems like things haven’t been very positive here for a long time, so it’s about time things start moving in the right direction. It’s about time this team had a little bit of attitude and a little bit of swagger. I think that’s been missing over the last couple of years.”

Lucic is a menacing addition who averages 55 points a season and brings power and emotion to a team that needs both. He can also provide a measure of security for McDavid, given his well-earned reputation as a mean and hyper-aggressive player who reacts quickly to defend his teammates.

The length of the contract has some people concerned, though. Power forwards tend to drop off sharply in their early 30s and many expect that Lucic and his contract won’t be nearly as palatable in years 5, 6 and 7.

But he has proven himself remarkably durable, missing just four games to injury over the last six seasons and doesn’t think he’ll break down at all.

“I’ve been able to hold up,” he said “A lot of people forget I just turned 28 this month. I’m still young as far a hockey age goes. Just because I’ve played nine years doesn’t mean I don’t have a lot left.

“I’ve always taken pride in keeping myself in good shape and will continue to do that. I think it’s my competitiveness that’s helped me play the game for a long time. I think that’s something you can’t teach and that will always be there. My will to win will always be there.”

The Oilers are definitely becoming a harder team to play against. Lucic joins Matt Kassian (6-3, 217), Patrick Maroon (6-3, 230) and Matt Hendricks (6-0, 207) in the aggressive forward category. Even the skill guys are sizing up with Leon Draisaitl (6-1, 214) and Jesse Puljujarvi (6-4, 203).

“I can tell you from an opponent’s standpoint, you were never scared or intimidated heading into a game against the Oilers,” said Lucic, adding that is going to change this winter. “I think that’s something we all have to change as a group. We need to send a message right from the first puck drop.”